Interview with the Cast and Director of Tully

(l to r.) Mackenzie Davis as Tully and Charlize Theron as Marlo star in JasonReitman’s TULLY, a Focus Features release. Credit: Kimberly French / Focus Features

The day after I screened the Tully movie (read my Tully movie review), I had the opportunity to sit down with the team of Tully including Jason Reitman (director), Mackenzie Davis (Tully), Charlize Theron (Marlo), Ron Livingston (Drew) and Mark Duplass (Craig). I immediately got the sense of family, that each of these actors enjoyed one another’s company and working together on the movie.

(l to r.) Charlize Theron and director Jason Reitman on the set of TULLY, aFocus Features release. Credit: Kimberly French / Focus Features

Writer Diablo Cody

In the movie there is a fine line between humor and very serious content that can be hard to balance but they made it work so well. The director, Jason Reitman, said the DNA of the film really starts with Diablo Cody (the writer) because that’s always how she’s written movies. She’s found things that could easily be considered tragic or dramatic and brought them to the screen in an incredible way but that’s the thrill of her writing. The drama and the humor are intertwined.

When we asked Charlize Theron (Marlo) about motherhood she said it’s the one thing that we all share is that we’re trying to get through every day whatever we choose to do to hopefully be the best things for our kids. As mothers, every decision gets made based from our kids. Charlize said, “In South Africa, we have this saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a kid,’ and I was raised that way. I grew up with a lot of people around me and my mom sharing me with a lot of people and it was great to grow up.” Her village was always there and will always be in her life forever to rely on.

You’ll notice in the movie that Marlo’s son is special but the characters never mention a term for him. Jason said it’s really clever how Diablo wrote him in to the screenplay. It’s just like how you don’t hear the actual term postpartum depression in the film and it’s so smart how Diablo never made it specific. We’re supposed to present a version to the world that we’re perfect but when a movie, like Tully, works so well, it makes you feel less alone.

Tully is such a raw portrait of motherhood that we don’t often see onscreen, but would this scare off people from motherhood? Of course not. The movie is meant to make the moments feel more real no matter what happens. According to Mackenzie (Tully) it didn’t scare her at all!

Charlize Theron stars as Marlo in Jason Reitman’s TULLY, a Focus Features release.Credit: Kimberly French / Focus Features

Charlize gained 50 pounds for the film to really capture motherhood. During a past interview with Chelsea Handler she said that she actually experienced her own depression due to the weight gain. Charlize said depression is different for all of us. Women hurt differently and carry pain differently than men but she said she doesn’t necessarily believe that wholeheartedly for herself. She said she believes that what we experience is just part of building who we are which isn’t a bad thing.

Do Not Feel Alone

The biggest take away from Tully is that moms should not feel alone. People see this movie and there’s a lot of moments where they see themselves and feel like they have never had that opportunity to see that part of being a parent. When you can do something that makes people feel on the level that’s raw, honest and undeniably truthful — that’s always a great place to be in.

The movie wasn’t made to be watered down so as to make it more appealing. They went for the truth.

Mark Duplass’ character, Craig, is Marlo’s (Charlize Theron) rich brother. Mark said he’s what they call a ‘rich dick.’ Of course, laughter immediately consumed the room. Mark’s character was actually one of my favorites in the film. He portrayed Marlo’s brother in the absolute perfect way. You know, that one family member we have a love/hate relationship with. There’s one in every family! But in all honesty, the core of the message from Craig is being able to admit that you need some help as a mom and there’s no shame in that.

Mark Duplass stars as Craig in Jason Reitman’s TULLY, a Focus Features release. Credit: Kimberly French / Focus Features

Mark is a dad and he actually has two children, ages ten and six. The earlier version of Marlo that was so fun-loving, thinking she could have it all and do it all reminded him of his wife. Isn’t that what we all think or hope for at some point as mothers? You know, the perfection we all think we have to achieve?

He said the Gwyneth Paltrow ‘lore’ had his wife thinking it was achievable. Him and his wife always joked about how she’s able to do it all. Well, they laughed, she cries a lot in between and gets a lot of help! The movie is definitely anti-Goop material. haha! So true in every mom’s life!

Mark Duplass stars as Craig in Jason Reitman’s TULLY, a Focus Features release. Credit: Kimberly French / Focus Features

Special Chemistry

Director Jason Reitman, writer Diablo Cody and star Charlize Theron previously collaborated together on Young Adult (2011). Mark said it was great to walk into a movie where he saw the special chemistry between Jason and Charlize since they’d done a movie together. It was like seeing a brother and sister working together.

Director Jason Reitman on the set of TULLY, a Focus Features release. Credit: Kimberly French / Focus Features

Cheesy Beef

In the movie Marlo fed her kids frozen pizza and broccoli as a quick way to feed them supper. It’s a time crunch for moms to fix whatever is handy. Mackenzie said she’s pretty gross like that and enjoys dipping bread in melted butter and Sriracha. I’m pretty sure she got the win on that one! Mark said he enjoys veggie burgers while Ron said he feeds his kids cheesy beef. Cheesy beef consists of frozen hamburger meat and whatever is in the fridge topped with cheese. Right now it’s working for his kids for a win! haha! What’s the grossest thing you have ever cooked in a time crunch for your family?

Head out to see Tully in theaters everywhere! Check out the trailer below!

Story: A new comedy from Academy Award®-nominated director Jason Reitman (“Up in the Air”) and Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (“Juno”). Marlo (Academy Award® winner Charlize Theron), a mother of three including a newborn, is gifted a night nanny by her brother (Mark Duplass). Hesitant to the extravagance at first, Marlo comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful, surprising, and sometimes challenging young nanny named Tully (Mackenzie Davis).

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